her.

It is at this point that Boiardo's poem ends; and Ariosto, adopting
his characters, immediately begins weaving three principal strands of
narrative,--one relating to the wars of Charlemagne, another to
Orlando's madness, and the third to the love of Rogero and
Bradamant,--Rogero, an ancestor of the Ferrara family (Ariosto's
patrons), being the real hero of his poem.

Not satisfied at being placed under the care of Duke Namus of Bavaria,
Angelica escapes from his guardianship, only to be pursued by the
unwelcome attentions of Rinaldo and Ferrau. While these two fight for
her possession, the lady, who spends her time fleeing from unwelcome
suitors, escapes, only to fall into the hands of Sacripant, King of
Circassia, another admirer, who bears her off in triumph. They meet a
knight in white armor (Bradamant in quest of Rogero), ere they are
overtaken by Rinaldo. A new duel now ensues, this time between Rinaldo
and Sacripant, during which Angelica runs away and seeks refuge with a
hermit-magician, who then informs the combatants Angelica has been
carried off to Paris by Orlando. Hearing this, the rivals cease
fighting and join forces to rescue the lady, but, when they arrive in
Paris, Charlemagne despatches Rinaldo to England and Scotland, where,
among other marvellous adventures, is told the lengthy and fantastic
yet beautiful story of Ginevra.

It seems that, although loved by the Duke of Albany, this lady prefers
the knight Ariolant. She thereby so enrages her noble suitor that he
finally bribes her maid to personate her and admit him by night to her
chamber by means of a rope ladder. With fiendish cunning he has
advised Ariolant to watch Ginevra, so this true lover, witnessing what
he considers irrefutable proof of his lady-love's unchastity, departs
in despair to commit suicide. His brother, deeming him already dead,
denounces Ginevra, who, brought before the judges, is sentenced to die
unless some champion will vindicate her honor. Having meantime
discovered the truth, Rinaldo clears the lady by winning a brilliant
victory, and leaves only after she is safely married to the man she
loves, who after all has not taken his life.

The poet now picks up another thread and shows us Bradamant seeking
Rogero, and discovering, by means of Angelica's magic ring, that he is
captive of a magician. After a narrow escape, and a vision of the
feats her descendants will perform, Bradamant helps Rogero to escape.
Soon aft